UN staff killed as Afghan Koran burning protest turns violent

A number of people have been killed after protests in the Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif turned violent.

At least eight foreign UN workers and four others were among the dead following the protests against a burning of the Koran in a US church in March.

The attacks could slow the UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. (PA)

UN spokesman Dan McNorton could not confirm how many members of staff had perished but promised that the organisation was doing its best to help its remaining workers in the city.

Reports from Reuters suggested that officials expect the death toll to rise in what UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has called ‘an outrageous and cowardly attack’.

Several hundred protesters were seen outside the Blue Mosque on Friday evening and a small group are believed to have seized weapons from nearby armed guards inside the UN compound and began firing.

The violence was in response to Pastor Wayne Sapp’s burning of a copy of the Koran in a Florida church on March 20th, which was attended by Terry Jones, who infamously planned to conduct a similar ceremony on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.